BURSARIES FOR SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 March 1919, Page 5

BURSARIES FOR SOLDIERS.

TO SECURE A UNIVERSITY COURSE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. AVellington, Last Night. The Minister for Internal Affairs made a statement to-day regarding a scheme for the establishment bv the War Funds Council of some fifty bursaries for returned soldiers desiring to attend the University to qualify for professions. The National War Funds Council was established by the War Funds Act of 1915, the Minister said, and to it considerable sums of money were handed by donors , and a fund had been created, approximately £32,000. The war having come to an end and the country having started a policy of repatriation the council was desirous of using the funds to the best advantage for the benefit- of returned men. As the general work of repatriation dealing with the settlement of men on the land, in businesses, etc., was in. the hands of the Repatriatioh Board, the Minister had submitted to the members of the Council a proposal that that body should specialise in the direction of helping in the education of returned men, as he considered the funds in the hands of the council could be put to no better use than in providing bursaries for returned soldiers. The Minister had "ommunieated with all members asking their approval to the immediate establishment of 50 bursaries by the council of £SO a year each, to be held at any college of the university bf New Zealand in any of the following courses of study: Arts and sciencee, law. medicine, dentistry, music, engineering, commerce, agriculture, and public health. The bursaries would be for four or five years, as might be necessary to complete the courses, and would be subject to an animal report on the conduct and work of the holder being jalisfactory. The Minister said that replies from members of the council expressed entire approval of the scheme. The Minister added that students could not take up a graduate course on the bursaries provided by the War Funds Council, but it' was hoped they would be subsidised substantially by patriotic societies, which were holding practically a million and a half of money raised for the benefit- of soldiers.